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Teachers attend breakfast to welcome in school year

Lexington Senior High School faculty and staff stand and applaud after being named 'School of the Year' during the Lexington City Schools Welcome Back Breakfast on Monday morning at Charles England Elementary School.

Published: Monday, August 19, 2013 at 3:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 19, 2013 at 3:46 p.m.

Summer is symbolically over when teachers return to work. Rick Kriesky, superintendent of Lexington City Schools, welcomed teachers in the Lexington City school system to another academic year during a breakfast at Charles England Elementary School on Monday morning. During that meeting, several teachers were recognized for their commitment to education.

Lexington Senior High School faculty and staff stand and applaud after being named 'School of the Year' during the Lexington City Schools Welcome Back Breakfast on Monday morning at Charles England Elementary School.

Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch

South Lexington Elementary kindergarten teacher Jennifer Byerly was named Lexington City Schools Teacher of the Year. During her acceptance speech, she said that teaching is not something that exists solely in the classroom.

"Teaching comes from the heart," Byerly said. "Each one of us hopes to be that one teacher that makes a difference to that one child. We should learn from them and, while remaining focused on education, make a difference outside the classroom."

Lexington Senior High School Principal Travis Taylor won the Principal of the Year award. He said that he was honored and thankful for all the support he has received.

"I am standing on the shoulders of giants," he said. "I am truly thankful for all of the teachers, parents and community who have given me their support."

Taylor also accepted the award for the School of the Year on behalf on Lexington Senior High School and attributes its 86.1 percentage graduation rate this year to the dedication of the entire school system, especially the teachers.

"We will continue to work hard," Taylor said.

During the meeting, Kriesky showed a video discussing the importance of teachers developing a relationship with their students. In the video titled "Every Kid Needs a Champion," Rita Person explains how crucial it is to be there as a friend as well as an educator.

"Kids don't learn from people they don't like," Person said.

Kriesky said he hoped each person attending the breakfast will nurture relationships with their students while still making them accountable for their actions.

"Sometimes students make bad choices, but that doesn't make them bad," he said.

He finished by saying that educators need a certain sense of defiance because there are plenty of people who "throw rocks" at public education. He said that they will continue despite the cuts in funding, reduction in pay for teachers with advanced degrees and the siphoning of high-performing students to magnet schools.

"We are educators," he said. "We will continue to work anyway, no matter what the boo-birds say."

The principals from the schools wore bright orange T-shirts promoting the 5K backpack run to be held Sept. 28 to raise money for a program that provides a backpack of food for deserving children to take home every weekend of the school year.

"Students who are hungry can't learn," Kriesky said. "We need everyone to support this program. We want to encourage healthy living and exercise."

Scott Biesecker, chairman of the Lexington City Board of Education, welcomed the teachers to another school year and recognized Lexington Mayor Newell Clark as well as the members of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners, Lexington City Council and the Lexington City School Board who attended the meeting.

"I believe in you, the school board believes in you, and the community believes in you," Biesecker said to the teachers. "You have the most important job, and the school system is a beacon in this town. We can't thank you enough for all that you do."

The principals for each school within the city system made brief remarks and encouraged their teachers to participate in a good-natured competition of who is the best school. The teachers clapped and hooted in an uncharacteristic display of rowdiness for educators in support of their own school when their principal introduced themselves.

Rhonda Blackwell, a second-year teacher at Lexington Senior High; Lauren Kepley, a third-year teacher from South Lexington Elementary; and John Spillman, a fourth-year teacher from Lexington Senior High, received beginning teacher of the year awards.

Kathryn Griffith from South Lexington Elementary School was named mentor of the year. Two teachers from Lexington Senior High School , Kristi Thornhill and Jessica Roberts, were named technology teachers of the year.

The breakfast began with a moment of silence to honor former Lexington Middle School principal Rosa Lovelace, who died in December from lung cancer.

"She is still in our hearts," said Kriesky

Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com.

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